Tag: #creative

Tech Review – Creative Chat USB-C headset.

Many of us now are working from home and it looks like it will be the new norm but working in the office is als not entirely ruled out either post pandemic but having said all that you need the tools that can be used in both and this new headset from creative is one to look at which is affordable and lightweight too, being wired though may put some off but there is still a large cohort of people out there that do like wired headsets and for me either is fine.

This headset has USB-C which is the new norm and can also be used with your mobile phone which is handy and can be used in a personal capacity to take calls do zoom calls and listen to music too so you are not confined to your PC either so in effect you could save money here to with one headset and remember it is lightweight too.

Build

The build quality is decent enough too and being lightweight makes it even better especially for long term use the cups are soft too a nicely settle on the ears which make for a comfortable experience overall.

Controls

This is a simple plug and play unit but it does have an inline control panel built in you also get some software to play around with that can enhance the experience and we show you this in the video review below with a standard set up and one connected with the software running, the controls are simple to use and nothing is complicated here at all.

Smarts

The headset comes with a built-in noise-cancelling boom mic and swivel-to-mute function along with SmartComms Kit’s auto-mute and two-way noise cancellation features that make online calls a breeze for users. From webinar presentations to conference calls, the Creative Chat USB offers quality audio and effective noise-cancelling capabilities that works to prioritize voice pickup over unwanted background noises

Audio

Built with a pair of 40 mm Neodymium drivers, the Creative Chat USB has been intricately designed to deliver excellent audio performance that precedes its price by offering a much bigger audio bang for the buck. So, be it for work calls or entertainment, users can expect nothing but high-quality and crystal-clear audio playback all day.

Multiplatform

The Creative Chat USB also works with gaming consoles such as PS5, PS4, and Nintendo Switch so again you are not tied down to one product to use this headset on so it is a win if you have all the above including a phone or tablet.

Conclusion

Overall this is a great affordable headset that is not restricted with it use case scenario and gives decent audio too and being light it is comfortable and even though it is wired it still offers more options than others out there with connectivity

BUY – creative.com/chatusb.

Creative sent us this to review and no compensation paid nor any input given and are seeing this review the same time as you.

Watch the video below for more

 

 

Creative Launches Sound Blaster Katana V2

Creative Technology today announced the release of Sound Blaster Katana V2, the successor to the original Sound BlasterX Katana which had been regarded by many as the definitive gaming soundbar. Completely redesigned with an all-new sleek form factor, it delivers 68% more power than before, features improved audio dynamics and transforms the headphone experience with Super X-Fi Headphone Holography – this new Katana is a menacing weapon for desktop and console gamers alike.

Gaming Sounds Exciting Again

The Sound Blaster Katana V2 personifies the culmination of Creative’s best audio technologies as it brings games and movies to life through its 5.1 channel playback. Delivering the sound signature of a high-end Sound Blaster, built with more than 30 years of audio processing expertise, it retains the acclaimed tri-amplified design of its predecessor, where each of its 5 drivers is powered individually by Creative’s proprietary multi-core DSP controller. The audio quality is enhanced further through improved fabric dome tweeters for cleaner and more refined highs, and a larger, more imposing subwoofer for deeper yet impactful bass performance.

For users who prefer to shut out the world or battle away late into the night without disturbing others, Super X-Fi Headphone Holography, a multiple award-winning technology which recreates the soundstage of a high-end multi-speaker system in headphones, is the compelling solution. Built into the Sound Blaster Katana V2 with the integrated Super X-Fi UltraDSP chip, users will experience holographic audio that is personalized according to how they hear sound, and enjoy an unprecedented level of realism as they fully immerse themselves in a movie, or dive right into the gaming battlefield.

Enemy-spotting gets easier than ever before – with SXFI BATTLE Mode, a sound mode which is specially designed to give FPS gamers an unprecedented edge in enhanced audio cues, both for directionality and distance. There is also Scout Mode, a familiar Sound Blaster feature which focuses on sound detection so that opponents are heard before they are seen moving on screen.

With an integrated Dolby Audio decoder, users get to enjoy the cinematic experience not just while gaming, but also while movie-binging on streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime.

All-in-One Audio Hub

The Sound Blaster Katana V2 can be customized to sound and look just the way users like it. When connected to the Creative app (both desktop and mobile), users can choose from various EQ settings and tune the audio with the Acoustic Engine suite. Furthermore, the redesigned RGB lighting strip features various illumination mode selections across 16.8 million colors, which intuitively reactive to the playback content.  These settings can be saved as customized profiles on either the app or the programmable buttons on the remote control.

It is comprehensively decked out with a multitude of connectivity options, with HDMI ARC and optical ports, wireless Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C port for USB audio support, 3.5mm AUX-in and SXFI-out for certified Super X-Fi products. It is compatible with desktops and consoles alike, including PC, Mac, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X and S, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

All in all, the Sound Blaster Katana V2 provides a complete entertainment experience which transcends beyond what is expected of a gaming soundbar.

Pricing and Availability

Sound Blaster Katana V2 is priced at £299, US$329.99 and is available at Creative.com.

For more information, visit www.creative.com/KatanaV2.

Creative launches Live! Mic M3

Creative Live! Mic M3 offers users greater versatility across different use cases as it is designed with two 14mm condenser capsules for dual polar pattern types, Cardioid and Omni, which can be easily switched via the control knob. With the Cardioid pattern, it is most suitable for single-person recordings, like streaming a gameplay, as it is a front-focused mode and is best used to capture sounds made directly in front of the mic. On the other hand, the Omni pattern is an all-angle mode that works better to capture sounds equally from all directions and is great for use with groups, like a podcast recording with two or three hosts.

With up to 24-bit / 96 kHz high-resolution recording, Creative Live! Mic M3 offers clearer recordings to add that dash of audio oomph to the user’s livestreams, podcasts, conference calls, or even just everyday conversations. Adding to that, the microphone also comes with a dedicated mute button and real-time mic monitoring, which allows users to easily make adjustments on the fly.

Equipped with a built-in headphones port, detachable pop filter, and an adjustable table stand, Creative Live! Mic M3 serves as the perfect microphone for budding content creators and even those working from home as it offers crystal clear and studio-quality audio without the hefty price tag.

Pricing and Availability

Creative Live! Mic M3 is attractively priced at £54.99 UK and US$59.99 and is available at Creative.com.

For more information, visit www.creative.com/LiveMicM3.

Get more audio from your PC with Creative’s new Sound Blaster Audigy FX V2

Creative Technology today announced the release of Sound Blaster Audigy FX V2, the latest addition to its well-established series of Sound Blaster sound cards. A compelling facelift over its predecessor Sound Blaster Audigy Fx, which was already a bestseller in its own right, this sound card features improvements in audio quality (including an upgrade option via a daughter board) and the versatile SmartComms Kit for seamless online calls. The Sound Blaster FX V2 is quite simply the choice pick amongst cost-effective audio upgrade options for PCs.

Sound Blaster Audigy FX V2 features a separate daughter board as an upgrade option.

Hear the Sound Blaster Difference

The Sound Blaster FX V2 is powered by the heralded Sound Blaster Acoustic Engine technology that delivers high-quality, 5.1 cinematic surround sound, 24Bit 192khz high-resolution audio. Coupled with its high-fidelity DAC which is capable of up to 120dB dynamic range, this sound card offers pure ear candy for users looking to improve their motherboard audio for movies, gaming and music. Scout Mode, a Sound Blaster staple, enhances in-game audio cues so that users get a ‘ear-start’ in nailing down opponent locations while in battle.

This sound card supports 5.1 discrete channels on speakers, as well as 5.1 virtual surround on headphones (up to 600 Ω). For users who want even more, the Sound Blaster Fx V2 DBPRO daughter board is available as an upgrade option – users get to enjoy full 7.1 surround sound, DSD256 high-quality playback and an optical-out port for even more connectivity.

With a half-height and compact form factor, the Sound Blaster Fx V2 is 16% smaller than the preceding model. It also comes with interchangeable full-height and half-height brackets in the box; making it easier than ever to fit a sound card into a PC.

The Smarter Way to Communicate

The Sound Blaster FX V2 performs beyond a typical sound card; the SmartComms Kit is a suite of smart communication features to help simplify the way users communicate during conference calls and online chats. With features such as VoiceDetect, NoiseClean-in, and NoiseClean-out, users can skip the unnecessary fiddling of microphone controls and ensure constant clarity while talking to others without the disturbance of annoying background noises.

Pricing and Availability

Sound Blaster FX V2 is priced at US$54.99, £49.99, €54.99, PLN249; Sound Blaster FX V2 DB PRO is priced at US$17.99, €17.99, £16.99, PLN 79. Both are available at Creative.com.

For more information, visit www.creative.com/SBAFXV2.

Creative Launches the Chat USB, the Ideal WFH Audio Companion

Creative Technology today announced the launch of the Creative Chat USB, a convenient USB-C on-ear headset that is fit for all-day audio enjoyment and works even better for conference calls. The latest headset comes with a built-in noise-cancelling boom mic and swivel-to-mute function along with SmartComms Kit’s auto-mute and two-way noise cancellation features that make online calls a breeze for users. From webinar presentations to conference calls, the Creative Chat USB offers quality audio and effective noise-cancelling capabilities that works to prioritize voice pickup over unwanted background noises, so users can truly focus on what matters most, the conversation.

With a simple plug-and-play setup, users can be ever-ready for any conference call with the Creative Chat USB.

Built with a pair of 40 mm Neodymium drivers, the Creative Chat USB has been intricately designed to deliver excellent audio performance that precedes its price by offering a much bigger audio bang for the buck. So, be it for work calls or entertainment, users can expect nothing but high-quality and crystal-clear audio playback all day.

The Creative Chat USB is also easy to set up with convenient compatibility across various popular conference apps such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Coupled with nifty smart features and improved call quality, the Creative Chat USB has all the makings of the perfect audio companion for any online calls.

Pricing and Availability

Creative Chat USB is attractively priced at £44.99, $49.99 in the US and €49.99 in Europe and is available at Creative.com.

For more information, visit creative.com/chatusb.

Creative shows that less is more with the launch of the Aurvana Trio LS. #Creative #AurvanaTrioLS

Creative Technology today announced the launch of the Creative Aurvana Trio LS, the latest addition to the popular Aurvana headphone series. A high-quality in-ear headphone with a new and efficient single-driver design, it punches above its weight to offer pristine audio performance with clearer highs and deeper bass as compared to other analog headphones.

 

Creative Aurvana Trio LS retains the robust yet sleek form factor characteristic of the Aurvana headphone series, with improvements from previous models.

The Creative Aurvana Trio LS is designed with Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) technology, an innovative product design feature which eliminates inconsistencies in driver performance caused by the traditional gluing process used in most other headphones.  It ensures more uniform and consistent movement throughout the entire driver to reduce the distortions and in turn, improve the overall sound quality to deliver a cleaner response across the audio spectrum.

This latest in-ear headphone is equipped with sawtooth sheath cables to help minimize disruptive microphonic noise. It also offers fuss-free controls with a built-in microphone and inline remote control which makes it a breeze for users to pick up calls and control the music playback with just a simple press of a button. On top of that, it is compact and easy to carry around with a handy pouch provided along with magnetic earbuds to keep it tangle-free.

The Creative Aurvana Trio LS is also Super X-Fi certified – it is specially tuned to work well with Super X-Fi products (such as the finger-sized Creative SXFI AMP) to deliver high-definition holographic audio as though there is a high-end multi-speaker system set up within the headphones. In addition, the headphones also come with the exclusive in-ear noise isolation design, which works to ensure an optimal seal to block out unwanted background noises so users can keep the music pumping without missing a single beat.

Equipped with a fuss-free design and great audio performance to boot, the Creative Aurvana Trio LS stands out from the crowd as the in-ear headphone offering more audio bang for the buck.

Pricing and Availability

Creative Aurvana Trio LS is attractively priced at £36.99 in the UK, $39.99 in the US and €39.99 in Europe and is available at Creative.com.

Tech Review – Creative SXFI Theater headphones. #Tech #Headphones

If you have not tried any of the Creative SXFI headphones you do not know what you are missing and the Theater is no different but there is only one thing about these that has me asking questions and that is why lock them out from your mobile phone and why the need to set up an account on the app and pc but I got a workaround for the smartphone issue which is fine but means you need to get a USB adapter to make it work but having said that aside using these for gaming and watching films these are something you should have at your disposal regardless but they really need to make them more open. You can use them via 3.5 mm cable but it just defeats the purpose and you miss out on all the features. I tested on PC/Laptop PS5 and phone and all went works well.

DEVICE COMPATIBILITY

Experience the immersive, holographic audio experience across devices:

For Desktops, PCs, Laptops

  • Microsoft® Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8.0, Windows 7
  • Mac OS X® 10.9 or higher

For Consoles

  • Nintendo Switch OS 5.0 or later
  • PS4/PS4 Pro Firmware Ver 5.0 or later

Setting up is simple enough and I get the need for lag free connectivity but these should be open to all, once you have downloaded the app and set up profiles all it is is a case of swapping out the usb dongle and the connect button is on the dongle to connect not the device it is plugged into.. You do a head mapping process and it might be better to have someone help you do this especially for the ears part.

I have got this to work on my phone with USB-C adapter the process is a bit a laborious having to set up twice and then set new profile for each device but it is worth it in the end.

 

Check out what you get in the box below…

 

So what are you getting here exactly.. A good comfortable pair of headphones to start with and the main selling point here is the immersive, holographic audio experience across devices and it puts you slap bang in the middle of everything and you can tune to your needs and oh boy it is great, having tested several of the previous models this is just as good if not better for that immersive audio experience you would expect to find from the SXFI range..

 

Primarily these are aimed at gamers but can be used in other scenarios so limited to an extent and I had to find a way to use them elsewhere this does depend though on what you are connected to they will not work on any tv I have or my projectors but do so on my phone. If you want to plug these in direct you can with the 3.5 mm cable but useless without the app hence why I say they should be just an open BT connection.

There is controls on the headset and a removable mic which is great and the volume control is a wheel rather than buttons which I like and then you have the super x-fi button which changes the tune altogether you also have the cool led rings around the cups for a nice effect even though you cant see it personally really but it is a nice touch nonetheless.

For gaming they are great for long term use and worth it and very comfortable and notice no sweating even with hours of non stop gaming this will depend on the day though and might change somewhat in the hotter days I will come back to that again when we do get some hot weather as we are expecting some next week..

 

 

Tech Review – Creative STAGE V2 soundbar and subwoofer. #Tech #STAGEV2

Many of you over the Xmas would have got a new TV for your sitting room or perhaps bedroom but one this consistent with TV speakers is they are generally underwhelming when it comes to delivering sound and with smart TVs selling like hotcakes you will pick them up for a good price which is grand but notice the offers on soundbars in the TV section in any store? Yes the stores also know this too and its an option for you to decide on yourself..

So here is the thing.. Remember 3D tv? Yes it failed and one thing that is consistent is the sound coming from your TV unless you spend thousands on and already 8K TVs are being touted which there is no need for now and simply out of most peoples price bracket now especially in the state the country is in now with the pandemic. So just buy your 4K smart TV which can be picked up for around 600 euro or less depending on screen size. Buy if you are clever you could get a great TV and sound system for under a grand easily and still enjoy a cinematic experince and the creative STAGE V2 is one way to do it which also comes with a subwoofer and I will tell you this it changes how you watch films and listen to music.

This works with everything, Gaming consoles, TV, Phone and Projectors which I primarily use at home because massive screen estate and portability. I always say to people go the optical route with any product as it works better and less hassle and that is how I have set mine up, I have tried several soundbars in the past but none came with a subwoofer which makes all the difference, your couch will vibrate yet alone the floor and this system just does it all, the sound is great, there is some power from the system and volume loud but not as loud as I would like it but that is just me and the same with headphones but yes my neighbours could here it next door so for the average joe it will be more than sufficient.

The build quality is also great and it blends in well with my surroundings and does not look out of place, I have two other speakers already connected to my TV too so I may pair them up with this system for an even more immersive setup but would rather have the same brand as a complete set up, for now these replace the current set up I had and I am really impressed overall with the quality and versatility this system gives, we go through the product below in the video review showing you how it works, different connection options and what you can connect to it which will enhance your experience overall than the usual flat experience you tend to get. Here is a sample I posted on Instagram that I could not include on YOU TUBE..

Overall it is a one stop shop here to have this in your home, you can connect anything to it, it enhances your experience no matter what you connect and it is a well built product that looks well, the price is even better at €109 at the time of posting this review..

BUY HERE 

BWF Partners with Creative to Add Holography To Badminton Live Streams with SXFI LIVE.

Badminton World Federation (BWF) has partnered with Creative Technology to enhance the fan experience of watching badminton matches by bringing the audience closer to the action through holographic audio.

Since the 30th January at the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals in Bangkok, Thailand, live and  delayed matches on BWF’s YouTube channel will be enhanced with SXFI LIVE. Making its debut as the latest iteration of the multiple award-winning Super X-Fi headphone holography, SXFI LIVE adds audio holography and recreates the soundstage of a premium multi-speaker system in a pair of normal headphones.

Processed in real time at the source of the live stream, fans will be able to enjoy the lifelike effects of Super X-Fi audio, regardless of the headphones they wear when watching the live streams on YouTube, and feel as though they are watching the matches live in the arena.

Bringing the Game Closer to the Fans

BWF Secretary General Thomas Lund said the progressive partnership was a positive step for badminton. “2020 was an unprecedented year in sport. The BWF has learned some valuable lessons about content curation in the absence of live events.

“As we begin 2021 with the possibility of some of our events hosted without live audiences, such as in Bangkok this week, we are delighted to partner with Creative to enhance the audio fan experience, even when virtual. 

“We look forward to working with Creative and the clever SXFI LIVE technology going forward.”

Sim Wong Hoo, CEO of Creative, said: “We are thrilled to be partners with BWF in a first-of-its kind initiative. This is a win-win-win partnership – Creative brings its technology and products to a global sport and audience. BWF becomes the first sports body to incorporate ground breaking audio technology to its events. Over 700 million badminton fans can now enjoy lifelike badminton live streams through their headphones.

“By transforming the audio quality right from the source, we bring the best seat in the badminton arena, smashes, flicks and all, to the fans in the comfort of their own homes. This is as close to the real thing as it gets, short of the fans returning to the arena. Aside from creating the spatialization and improving the immersion, SXFI LIVE will let people hear more details from the matches, through an ultra-wide soundstage compared to regular audio.”

SXFI LIVE for all BWF Major Championships and BWF World Tour Finals

SXFI LIVE will be featured in all of BWF’s top-tier Major tournaments in 2021, including the TOTAL BWF Sudirman Cup, TOTAL BWF Thomas and Uber Cup Finals, BWF World Championships and HSBC BWF World Tour Finals.

For more information, please visit https://www.creative.com/BWFSXFI.